When I was younger I worked at my Father's rental shop, and I didn't much care for the work. I was in my early twenties and I was still a lazy kid at heart. I didn't see the value in the shop or the work being done.
After a few years of being there my dad offered me the business and I turned it down, I didn't want annoying customers, paperwork and endless repairs for the rest of my life. It's a decision I still regret to this day.
I see the value in it now, if it were my business I could have turned it into what I wanted and it would have given me purpose for the rest of my life if I chose.
My Dad had some friends who always were there to help him out, and to enjoy each other's company. There was a much older man who was very good friends with him, and his name was Peter but we all called him Old Pete.
Old Pete must have been in his late 70's but he was still very active, he had a wood working shop in his garage and he often built things for other people for free. He volunteered himself out to the community and helped out where ever he could.
If you visit a retirement center to see your loved ones that need full time care you know that sometimes it's hard to talk to them, their minds and bodies are slow. Old Pete always had a quick wit and could keep a conversation going right up until the day he died.
I think the reason for this is that he kept his mind and his body doing something that helped him focus and get a little exercise on the side. He didn't sit all day long and watch T.V. He never gave up and stopped moving, even if he wasn't doing much Old Pete was always doing something. It kept his mind sharp and his body limber and he didn't turn into a mushroom.
This is one of the many secrets of life, keeping active and having a purpose after you have retired and have aged into senior citizenship.
Do yourself a favor and see the bigger picture, look outside the box that you are stuck in. Life lessons are all around us. Sometimes we have to learn from our mistakes but sometimes we don't.
Scott Goerz
